Telescoping shunt system for physiological fluid

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to an auxiliary device for use with and in physiological shunt circuits for the drainage of unwanted fluids from one part of the body to another. According to this invention a telescopic section is incorporated into a shunt catheter so that when one end of the system is implanted in an area of the body to be drained (such as the ventricles of the brain) and the other end of the system is implanted in a portion of the body into which the fluid must be drained (such as the heart), then, when there is bodily growth which would require elongation of the system, the telescopic portion will elongate and thus prolong the period before the system or some part of it must be replaced to compensate for normal growth. The catheter incorporating the telescopic section is made in two segments having flanged ends which contact the inside of a silicone rubber cylinder and are fluidtight, but can move longitudinally under tensile loads applied as a consequence of the growth of the child. The flanged ends may be radiopaque in order that the elongation may be checked by X-ray. These ends are held against withdrawal.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Rudolf R. Schulte 3328 Calle Fresno, Santa Barbara, Calif. 93105 [21] Appl. No. 843,517 [22] Filed July 22, 1969 [45] Patented Nov. 30, 1971 x [54] TELESCOPING SHUNT SYSTEM FOR PHYSIOLOGICAL FLUID 9 Claims, 3 Drawing Figs. [52] 0.8. CI 128/350 R, 285/302 51 lnt.Cl .4 ....A6lm 27/00 [50] Field oiSearch 128/350, 350 V; 285/302 56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 330,392 11/1885 Gray 285/302X 358,074 2/1887 Ryan 285/302 1,130,358 3/l9l5 Whitney 285/302 3,456,965 7/1969 Gajewski et aL. 128/334 X 3,492,996 2/1970 Fountain 128/350 Primary Examiner-Dalton L. Truluck Attorney-Angus & Mon

ABSTRACT: This invention relates to an auxiliary device for use with and in physiological shunt circuits for the drainage of unwanted fluids from one part of the body to another. According to this invention a telescopic section is incorporated into a shunt catheter so that when one end of the system is implanted in an area of the body to be drained (such as the ventricles of the brain) and the other end of the system is implanted in a portion of the body into which the fluid must be drained (such as the heart), then, when there is bodily growth which would require elongation of the system, the telescopic portion will elongate and thus prolong the period before the system or some part of it must be replaced to compensate for nonnal growth. The catheter incorporating the telescopic section is made in two segments having flanged ends which contact the inside of a silicone rubber cylinder and are fluidtight, but can move longitudinally under tensile loads applied as a consequence of the growth of the child. The flanged ends may be radiopaque in order that the elongation may be checked by X- ray. These ends are held against withdrawal.

PATENTED 30 3,623,484

INVEN'IUR. IQUDOLF R. SCHUL TE A TTOK/Vf Y5.

TELESCOPING SHUNT SYSTEM FOR PHYSIOLOGICAL FLUID to auxiliary devices for use in Still another object of the invention is to provide means on ic portion and thereby providing elongation.

The above and other features of this invention will be fully appreciated from the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 shows the presently preferred embodiment of the invention in the body ofa child;

F IG. 2 is a cross section of a portion of the invention shown in Fig. 1, taken at line 2 2 therein; and

FIG. 3 is a cross section taken at line 3-ofFlG. 2.

A telescopic catheter 10, as shown in FIG. 1, is incoris fixed to the body at a location between the two ends of one arm of the system (the arm sometimes herein called a drainage catheter"), which arm is divided into two adjacent portions in this device.

The portions of the drainage catheter are called the proximal catheter l1 and the distal catheter 12. As seen in FIG. 2, the proximal catheter 1] and the distal catheter 12 have enlarged cylindrical flanges l3 and 14 which act as pistons and make a sliding sealing fit inside of retainer sleeves l and 16. Flanges l3 and 14 may be made radiopaque by applying a coating of, or by impregnation with, radiopaque material such as barium sulfate in order to visualize the flanges to X-ray in the implanted device.

the catheter portions. An outer sleeve 17 encases the retaining sleeves l5 and 16. The three sleeves may be held assembled by an air-curing silicone rubber cement. All sleeves and the catheter tubes 11 and 12 may conveniently be made of silicone rubber.

In use in a shunt system another catheter 18 (sometimes herein called a drainage catheter) is implanted so as to drain a region having unwanted fluids, such as the ventricles of the brain in cases of hydrocephalus. This catheter has a central passage and openings thereinto so as to collect fluid from this region.

pump, which interconnects them.

The proximal catheter portion 11 is sutured to the lozenge 19, which fixes its free end. Retainer sleeve 16 is sutured to the jugular vicinity by attachment of a suture to a groove 19a this suturing being done at the end 20, and these will become encased in fibrous tissue in the superior vena cava, and thereby prevent too-easy withdrawal therefrom.

catheter, while the cylindrical enlarge flanges l3 and 14 of the catheter tubes 11 and 12 are in sliding, fluid-sealing fit with the inside walls of the retaining sleeves l5 and 16. The outer sleeve 17 is then slipped over the retaining sleeves l5 and 16 and cemented into place with an aircuring silicone rubber cement, thus holding the telescopic catheter parts assembled in proper relative position.

In use, with the distal fixed to the clearing pump and to the jugular vein, and with an remains to be allowed before the device must be replaced with longer catheter portions.

The flanges are held against removal by the reduced portions 22 and 23, which are smaller than the flanges, so the device cannot be disassembled by an axial pull.

This telescopic joint markedly improves the function of the for example, in a single-line patent, wherein no pump is used.

The device is easily manufactured, and elegant in concept.

lclaim: l. A catheter for use in a physiological fluid shunt system, said catheter comprising: a first and a second tubular catheter each of said tubular retaining sleeves having a cylindrical inner wall with a reduced end adapted to overhang and retain against removal a respective one of said flanges and to make a close engagement with the outer wall of the respective catheter portion, said flanges making a sliding fluid-sealing fit with respective inner walls of said retaining sleeves; and an outer sleeve, said outer sleeve being bonded to and joining together and fluidly sealing the retaining sleeves, the retaining sleeves projecting beyond the ends of the outer sleeve.

2. A catheter according to claim 1 in which a groove is provided in the outer wall of one of said retainer sleeves to provide a point of attachment for a suture.

3. A catheter according to claim 1 in which one of said catheter portions carries protrusions on its surface near its end away from the sleeves, said protrusions being adapted to engage with fibrous body materials to prevent too-easy withdrawal.

4. A catheter described in claim 1 in which said enlarged shoulders on said tubular catheter segments are radiopaque.

5. A catheter according to claim 1 in which said tubular catheter, said retaining sleeves, and said sleeves are made of silicone rubber.

6. A catheter according to claim 3 in which said enlarged shoulders on said tubular catheter are radiopaque, and in which the catheter and said sleeves are made of silicone rubber.

7. A physiological fluid shunt system which comprises: a

collector catheter; pump means draining fluid from said collector catheter; a drainage catheter having a first portion and a second portion, and a telescopic coupling means connecting said portions for enabling the length of the drainage catheter to increase, said telescopic coupling means comprising: an enlarged cylindrical flange on each of the catheter portions; a pair of tubular retaining sleeves, each of said tubular retaining sleeves having a cylindrical inner wall with a reduced end adapted to overhang and retain against removal a respective one of the said flanges and to make a close engagement with the outer wall of the respective catheter portion, said flanges making a sliding fluid-sealing fit with respective inner walls of said retaining sleeves; and an outer sleeve, said outer sleeve being bonded to and joining together and fluidly sealing the retaining sleeves, the retaining sleeves projecting beyond the ends of the outer sleeve.

8. A system according to claim 7 in which a vided in the outer wall of one of said vide a point of attachment for a suture.

9. A system according to claim 7 in which one of said catheter portions carries protrusions on its surface near its end away from the sleeves, said protrusions being adapted to engage with fibrous body materials to prevent too-easy withdrawal.

groove is proretainer sleeves to pro- Patent No.

Inventofls) UMTED STATES PATENI 0mm:

FHCATE OF CQRl iEC'LLC/N November 30, 1971 3 623 ,484- Dated RUDOLF R. S HULTE it is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Cole 1, line 15, 'combines" should read -combined-- Cole 1, line 45, "3--" should read --3-3- Col V 1, line 55, "retainer" should read --retaining- N 1, line 58, "sulfate" should read --sulphate-- Col 1, line 74, "drainage" should read --"collection-- Col. 2, line 23, "enlarge" should read --enlarged-- Col 2, line 60, "surgeons" should read -surgeon's-- Col '4 line 2, (Claim 7, line 3) after "catheter", 2nd

occurrence, there should be inserted --receiving fluid from said pump means, said drainage catheter-- Signed and sealed this 18th day of December 1973.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M. FLETCHER,JR. Attestine Officer RENE D TEGTMEYER Acting Commissioner of Patents 

1. A catheter for use in a physiological fluid shunt system, said catheter comprising: a first and a second tubular catheter portion, said tubular catheter portions each having an enlarged cylindrical flange; a pair of tubular retaining sleeves, each of said tubular retaining sleeves having a cylindrical inner wall with a reduced end adapted to overhang and retain against removal a respective one of said flanges and to make a close engagement with the outer wall of the respective catheter portion, said flanges making a sliding fluid-sealing fit with respective inner walls of said retaining sleeves; and an outer sleeve, said outer sleeve being bonded to and joining together and fluidly sealing the retaining sleeves, the retaining sleeves projecting beyond the ends of the outer sleeve.
 2. A catheter according to claim 1 in which a groove is provided in the outer wall of one of said retainer sleeves to provide a point of attachment for a suture.
 3. A catheter according to claim 1 in which one of said catheter portions carries protrusions on its surface near its end away from the sleeves, said protrusions being adapted to engage with fibrous body materials to prevent too-easy withdrawal.
 4. A catheter described in claim 1 in which said enlarged shoulders on said tubular catheter segments are radiopaque.
 5. A catheter according to claim 1 in which said tubular catheter, said retaining sleeves, and said sleeves are made of silicone rubber.
 6. A catheter according to claim 3 in which said enlarged shoulders on said tubular catheter are radiopaque, and in which the catheter and said sleeves are made of silicone rubber.
 7. A physiological fluid shunt system which comprises: a collector catheter; pump means draining fluid from said collector catheter; a drainage catheter receiving fluid from said pump means, said drainage catheter having a first portion and a second portion, and a telescopic coupling means connecting said portions for enabling the length of the drainage catheter to increase, said telescopic coupling means comprising: an enlarged cylindrical flange on each of the catheter portions; a pair of tubular retaining sleeves, each of said tubular retaining sleeves having a cylindrical inner wall with a reduced end adapted to overhang and retain against removal a respective one of the said flanges and to make a close engagement with the outer wall of the respective catheter portion, said flanges making a sliding fluid-sealing fit wiTh respective inner walls of said retaining sleeves; and an outer sleeve, said outer sleeve being bonded to and joining together and fluidly sealing the retaining sleeves, the retaining sleeves projecting beyond the ends of the outer sleeve.
 8. A system according to claim 7 in which a groove is provided in the outer wall of one of said retainer sleeves to provide a point of attachment for a suture.
 9. A system according to claim 7 in which one of said catheter portions carries protrusions on its surface near its end away from the sleeves, said protrusions being adapted to engage with fibrous body materials to prevent too-easy withdrawal. 